Franklin D. Roosevelt, "A Date That Will Live in Infamy" (1941): List 2

On December 7, 1941, Japan launched a surprise attack on the United States naval base located at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. Over 2,400 Americans died. The next day, President Franklin D. Roosevelt addressed Congress to ask for a declaration of war. He began by referring to December 7th as "a date that will live in infamy." The Pearl Harbor attack brought the United States into World War II and was the most deadly foreign attack on American soil until the 9/11 attacks by al Qaeda in 2001.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. offensive
    the action of attacking an enemy
    Japan has therefore undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area.
  2. implication
    a logical relation between propositions
    The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our Nation.
  3. measure
    any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
    As Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense.
  4. character
    a property that defines the individual nature of something
    As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense, that always will our whole nation remember the character of the onslaught against us.
  5. onslaught
    an offensive against an enemy
    As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense, that always will our whole nation remember the character of the onslaught against us.
  6. premeditated
    characterized by deliberate purpose and a degree of planning
    No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people, in their righteous might, will win through to absolute victory.
  7. interpret
    make sense of; assign a meaning to
    I believe that I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost but will make it very certain that this form of treachery shall never again endanger us.
  8. assert
    declare or affirm solemnly and formally as true
    I believe that I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost but will make it very certain that this form of treachery shall never again endanger us.
  9. treachery
    an act of deliberate betrayal
    I believe that I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost but will make it very certain that this form of treachery shall never again endanger us.
  10. inevitable
    incapable of being avoided or prevented
    With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph.
  11. triumph
    a successful ending of a struggle or contest
    With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph.
  12. dastardly
    extremely wicked
    I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese Empire.
Created on Mon Jun 02 14:17:27 EDT 2025 (updated Mon Jun 02 14:28:06 EDT 2025)

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